NTT’s Disaster Emergency Message Service

Posted by Kyle Yates in Japan Related

With all the disasters happening around the world, it’s nice to know there is a way to get in touch with friends and family in the event a disaster happens in Japan.

Many people, if not most, have a cellular phone in Japan. For cellular phones to be out of service can easily happen if the area you are in loses electricity or the mountains come down to the sea. If that happens, NTT has created a way where you can notify your friends and family how you are doing even when phone lines are damaged or jammed.

Go to a green or grey payphone or you can even use your home phone, if you happen to be there when a disaster hits, and dial 171. Remember that, 171. After you have dialed the number choose “Record” or “Listen”. Then enter your phone number, if you are in the disaster area, or the number you wish to reach outside the disaster area starting with the prefix number first. Then confirm the number you entered by pressing the number 1 and then the pound button, #. Once again, 1 and then #.

If you happen to enter the incorrect number, hang the phone up and start again.

After you have recorded a message or listened to one, press 9# to end the call.